A U.S. State Department delegation has met with British pro-life activists who were arrested for silently praying near abortion clinics.
The Telegraph has revealed that the five-member team, led by adviser Samuel Samson, visited the UK in March on a fact-finding mission focused on freedom of expression.
The group spoke with five individuals charged under the UK’s buffer zone laws and raised concerns with officials about free speech and religious liberty.
Buffer zones are areas near abortion clinics where placards and any activity perceived as intimidating to women seeking services are prohibited.
Among those who met the U.S. delegation were Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, Rose Docherty, Adam Smith-Connor, Livia Tossici-Bolt, and Father Sean Gough - all known figures whose cases, some ongoing for years, were either dropped or resolved by police.
Earlier this year, the UK’s approach to free speech became a point of contention with Trump administration officials, including Elon Musk, who voiced his concerns on X.
So much so that during a February meeting in the Oval Office, Sir Keir Starmer addressed the issue directly.
“We’ve had free speech for a very, very long time in the UK, and it will last for a very, very long time… Certainly we wouldn’t want to reach across US citizens, and we don’t, and that’s absolutely right. But in relation to free speech in the UK, I’m very proud of our history there,” he said.
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance later cited Mr Smith-Connor’s case and that of Ms Tossici-Bolt — who received a two-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £20,026 in costs — as examples of concern.
Her case reportedly raised alarm within the U.S. State Department, prompting the unusual step of formally warning Sir Keir that the situation was being “monitored” closely.
All those contacted by the State Department have been represented by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative Christian legal group opposed to the UK’s abortion protest laws.
Lorcan Price, legal counsel for ADF International, who told the outlet: “Because these peaceful individuals held thoughts and beliefs of which the state disapproved, they find themselves fighting to defend their very right to free thought.
“Now, fellow Western nations are noticing this erosion of freedom – and we should take heed.
“We hope our own legislators, witnessing this injustice impacting citizens, will step up to clarify that silent prayer, and consensual conversation, are lawful activities in this country.”
A US State Department spokesperson added: “US-UK relations share a mutual respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. However, as Vice-President Vance has said, we are concerned about freedom of expression in the UK.
“It is important that the UK respects and protects freedom of expression.”
